Fate yawned as she stretched out in Ethan's bed. She had crawled into it in the middle of the night again, despite the fact that Ethan might've crushed her. Lucy had been kind enough to give her and Ethan a room beside Akina, Namine and Destiny's, and Fate had put effort into making herself a small bed on the ground, out of the way, and it was super comfy. There shouldn't have been a problem, but Fate was always problematic.

Ethan wasn't in his bed, he must've gone to the kitchen, where everyone probably was. Despite him and Akina not getting along very well, the mornings were always... simple.

Fate got up and looked out the window through the curtains to see that it was snowing. What had it been since her and Ethan joined Fairy Tail? One month, maybe two months? It was December of x784. What day, Fate didn't remember at the moment. She watched the snow fall as she heard fighting in the other room.

"Akina, what the hell!?"
"What the hell to you too, Ethan!"
"Come on now..."
"AH! STOP, WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?"

Fate smiled a little.

'10 years now, I think...'

"You can predict the future?" Wendy and Lisanna asked at the same time.

Ethan, Akina, Namine, Destiny, Fate, Chilled, Minx, Hotaru, Rory, Ruri, Wendy, Carla and Lisanna were sitting at the same table when Carla had brought up the subject.

"Yes. Remember what the Queen said? I also have the power to see the future. Now that I consciously realize it, I'm able to control it a little." Carla explained.

"That's amazing, Carla." Wendy said.

"So tell me, who will I marry in the future?" Lisanna asked.

"I can't see that far into the future." Carla replied. She crossed her arms and looked around the Guild. "Let me see..." She pointed to Macao, who was reading a newspaper. "For example... you see Macao over there? Pretty soon Wakaba will come over and they'll start talking about the young people in the Guild."

They all instantly payed attention just before Wakaba walked over to Macao.

"Yo, Macao." Wakaba said.

"Hey there!" Macao replied.

"Wow, he really came, Carla!" Wendy exclaimed.

"Shh, the real part comes now!" Lisanna declared.

"It's that time of the year again, you know?" Wakaba asked.

"Sure brings back memories." Macao said.

"Back when we were younger..." Wakaba trailed off.

"We sure had that passion, you know?" Macao asked.

"But the young'uns these days are incredible! Such fine asses!"

"You're the ass!"

"Oh, more of the breast man, are we?"

"I got kids, buddy. I don't go 'round starin' at girls' rears!" Macao sneered.

"What about their feet?" Wakaba asked.

"Man, could I take a bite out of..."

"Those could step on me anytime!" They both laughed as the group watching them all sweat-dropped.

"W-Well..." Wendy trailed off.

"You were totally spot on! The conversation was disgusting, however." Lisanna said.

"I can promise you, not all guys talk about that stuff." Ethan promised, pulling his hat slightly over his face. Chilled had already gone for a full facepalm and a head-desk, and Rory sat there with his arms crossed and eyes closed, probably killing Macao and Wakaba over 3 times in his head. Destiny laughed nervously, probably thinking of the optimistic side of things.

"I'm sorry I went and predicted that." Carla apologized.

"Either way, that's amazing, Carla." Wendy said.

"Yup! Yup!" Lisanna agreed.

"Anyway, I still can't control it perfectly." Carla said.

The next day, everyone crowded the Guild hall.

"What's going on?" Ethan asked, standing with his usual group with Fate in his arms.

"The old man has some sort of "announcement" to make." Minx replied. "But damn you, you won't tell us!" Charles only chuckled and smiled.

"We'll find out soon enough." Akina said.

The curtain raised to reveal Master, Erza, Mira and Gildarts standing on a stage.

"Fairy Tail! As we have done since days long past, I will now announce the participants in this year's S Class Wizard Advancement Exam!" Master announced. The whole Guild cheered.

"S Class Wizard Advancement Exam?" Chilled and Ethan asked.

"Idiots." Minx and Akina insulted them.

"Do they hold this every year or something like that?" Namine asked, Destiny being held in her arms.

"Yah, they did before we left and had no reason to stop." Charles replied.

"Ah! I wonder who'll be picked! What do you think the actual exam is going to be like!?" Destiny asked.

"Probably something hard and dangerous. I bet they'll test obvious things like brain power, strength, etc." Fate replied.

"Alright then! I'll stick with what you think!" Destiny decided.

"Why?" Fate asked.

"Because I want to see if you're right, and you're an adorable genius so you most likely are!" Destiny replied. Fate blushed and smiled.

"There you go again..." Fate sighed.

"Everyone, quiet down!" Erza ordered.

"Master isn't finished speaking yet." Gildarts said. Everyone was silent once again.

"This year's exam will take place on Tenroujima! It is the holy ground for our Guild." Master said. "Each of your powers, hearts and souls... I have judged them all this past year. There will be 9 participants!

Natsu Dragneel!
Gray Fullbuster!
Juvia Lockser!
Elfman!
Cana Alberona!
Freed Justine!
Levy McGarden!
Mest Gryder!
And finally, Charles Turill!"

"WHAT!?" The group around him asked.

"Master came and talked to me about it. 8 years ago, I was a very good mage, and now I've grown. So he thinks it's good to give me a chance." Charles explained. They all calmed down, just a little.

"This time, only one of you will pass. The exam will take place in one week, so each of you, prepare yourselves!" Master ordered.

Ethan and Fate noticed Wendy and Carla close by and headed over. Ethan, Fate and Wendy started a conversation about the whole exam while Carla shook her head.

"Honestly... Such a fuss all the time." Carla said to no one in paticular. That's when she froze, gasping.

"What's the matter, Carla?" Wendy asked, pausing her conversation with Ethan and Fate.

"N-Nothing..." Carla replied. Once the 3 were distracted again, Carla went back to her thoughts.

'What was that, just for a moment...' Carla thought.

Everything was in black and white.
A tree was breaking and falling.
Cana was sobbing, tears streaming down her face.
Natsu sat on the ground, looking scared and/or horrified.
A motionless hand lied on the ground.
16 figures stood in the darkness.
4 figures were running through a forest, obviously in a panic.
Destiny was screaming, reaching out to someoe with a look of horror on his face.
An Exceed wearing a t-shirt and shorts with a bandana tied around his neck stood over Fate, who was unconscious. Blood ran down her face from her forehead and her cheek and her left shoulder was soaked in blood as well. The other Exceed had tears running down his face and was holding a knife, blood slowly dripping off of it...

Carla's eyes widened in shock and horror.

A man in perhaps robes stood, wind pushing away his robes and making his hair fly in the wind.
He opened his eyes, and seemed mad.

'Who?' Carla thought. Fate noticed Carla's un-easyness and wondered what was wrong, but didn't ask.

"As this is the first time for some of you, let me explain the rules." Master said.

"Each of the 9 selected participants, please select a partner within the week of preparation." Mira said.

"There are two rules for the partners you can choose. One, they must be a member of Fairy Tail. Two, you cannot partner with S-Class Wizards." Erza explained.

"The contents of the exam itself will be announced once you arrive at Tenroujima. But this time, Erza will be blocking your progress." Master said.

"I'll also help out to get in your way!" Mira said optimistically.

"No complaining! All S-Class wizards have gone through the same path." Gildarts said.

"The 9 selected participants and their chosen partners will assemble at Hargeon Port in one week. That is all!"

"They went ahead of us, I don't believe them!" Minx complained. "I'm gonna beat them to a pulp!" And with that, she ran ahead. Chilled stayed behind, trying to make himself warm while Charles shook his head at her behaviour.

"I still can't get used to her enthusiasticness." Chilled said softly, blowing into his hands and then rubbing them together. "So, Charles. Since Minx isn't very interested and I am, now is the perfect time to ask. Have you chosen your partner yet?"

"Actually, I was just about to do that." Charles replied. He stopped in his tracks and turned to face Chilled with a smile.

And so, a week later in Hargeon Port...

Gray and Loke,
Lisanna and Juvia,
Elfman and Evergreen,
Freed and Bickslow,
Mest and Wendy,
Gajeel and Levy,
Cana and Lucy,
Natsu and Happy,
And Charles and Chilled,

were standing in front of a boat with the Fairy Tail mark on it.